Saturday, March 23
Logan, Utah
7:00 PM MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Mountain West Conference Championship
Falcons close first-ever MW Championship with a 195.450
3/23/2024 11:32:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
LOGAN, Utah – On Saturday evening, the energy in Utah State's Dee Glen Smith Spectrum was at a fever pitch, as the Air Force women's gymnastics team closed the inaugural Mountain West Championship scoring a 195.450.
The Falcons' results were headlined by freshman Maggie Slife being named Mountain West Freshman of the Year. Slife, the conference's most decorated gymnast in its opening season, finished the evening being named conference champion in all around (39.350) and co-champion on vault (9.825).
Head Coach Jennifer Green on being a part of the first-ever Mountain West Championship:
"Tonight was extremely well run. Utah State did a wonderful job of executing this meet. The Mountain West put in an incredible weekend together for us – Banquets were top-notch, and all of the awards and everything were amazing. They had a great crowd coming into the arena tonight, so there was lots of energy, and it was fun to be a part of."
On vault, Air Force finished with a 48.600. Slife's champion-worthy 9.825 led scores across the board in the event and marked her sixth-straight 9.8 or better. Gabriella Meccia and freshman Clara Wallace followed up, each scoring a 9.725.
"It was a solid vault day for us," coach Green said. "Both Gabriella Meccia and Hartley had a great day. And of course, Maggie being co-champ on vault was huge."
Heading over to the uneven bars, Air Force earned a 48.750. Slife's 9.850 was good for a share of fifth; Junior Ayla McKean scored a 9.750, with Madison Carlisle and senior Kimberly Kinkade both logging a 9.725.
"Bars went well," said Green. "We usually stick a lot more dismounts than we did tonight – call it nerves and probably trying to give extra effort. But a solid rotation for us nonetheless with no mistakes, so you can't ask for more than that."
The Falcons found momentum on balance beam which they were able to ride though the remainder of the night, as Air Force earned a 49.075 in the event, marking a season-best. Wallace opened the event earning a 9.825. Sophomore Kylee Greene paced Air Force scoring on the apparatus with a 9.850, logging her best finish since the Falcons' season opener on Jan. 19. Hartley closed with a 9.825 of her own, and Slife earned a 9.800.
"Setting a season best on balance beam started a great upward trend for us. Clara always starts us off super strong. Kylee was amazing, Gabriella Hartley did a great job, and Kimberly (Kinkade) did awesome on both bars and beam for us."
The Falcons rode their momentum into the final rotation, finishing with a 49.025 on floor led by Slife's 9.825 – a score good for a share of third place. As competition around the arena came to its conclusion, Air Force, with a few competitors remaining on floor, closed out the night with a 9.800 for Gianna Martyna, 9.825 for Meccia, and Slife's 9.825.
In addition to Slife's all-around championship performance on Saturday evening, Wallace finished fifth, scoring a 38.850, and McKean's 38.500 was good for sixth.
Up Next:
Air Force women's gymnastics awaits results from around the nation in order to determine selections for NCAA regionals, to be announced at 10 a.m. MT, Monday, March 25. As a team, the Falcons are off to USA Gymnastics Nationals, hosted by West Chester University, starting on April 12.
The Falcons' results were headlined by freshman Maggie Slife being named Mountain West Freshman of the Year. Slife, the conference's most decorated gymnast in its opening season, finished the evening being named conference champion in all around (39.350) and co-champion on vault (9.825).
Head Coach Jennifer Green on being a part of the first-ever Mountain West Championship:
"Tonight was extremely well run. Utah State did a wonderful job of executing this meet. The Mountain West put in an incredible weekend together for us – Banquets were top-notch, and all of the awards and everything were amazing. They had a great crowd coming into the arena tonight, so there was lots of energy, and it was fun to be a part of."
On vault, Air Force finished with a 48.600. Slife's champion-worthy 9.825 led scores across the board in the event and marked her sixth-straight 9.8 or better. Gabriella Meccia and freshman Clara Wallace followed up, each scoring a 9.725.
"It was a solid vault day for us," coach Green said. "Both Gabriella Meccia and Hartley had a great day. And of course, Maggie being co-champ on vault was huge."
Heading over to the uneven bars, Air Force earned a 48.750. Slife's 9.850 was good for a share of fifth; Junior Ayla McKean scored a 9.750, with Madison Carlisle and senior Kimberly Kinkade both logging a 9.725.
"Bars went well," said Green. "We usually stick a lot more dismounts than we did tonight – call it nerves and probably trying to give extra effort. But a solid rotation for us nonetheless with no mistakes, so you can't ask for more than that."
The Falcons found momentum on balance beam which they were able to ride though the remainder of the night, as Air Force earned a 49.075 in the event, marking a season-best. Wallace opened the event earning a 9.825. Sophomore Kylee Greene paced Air Force scoring on the apparatus with a 9.850, logging her best finish since the Falcons' season opener on Jan. 19. Hartley closed with a 9.825 of her own, and Slife earned a 9.800.
"Setting a season best on balance beam started a great upward trend for us. Clara always starts us off super strong. Kylee was amazing, Gabriella Hartley did a great job, and Kimberly (Kinkade) did awesome on both bars and beam for us."
The Falcons rode their momentum into the final rotation, finishing with a 49.025 on floor led by Slife's 9.825 – a score good for a share of third place. As competition around the arena came to its conclusion, Air Force, with a few competitors remaining on floor, closed out the night with a 9.800 for Gianna Martyna, 9.825 for Meccia, and Slife's 9.825.
In addition to Slife's all-around championship performance on Saturday evening, Wallace finished fifth, scoring a 38.850, and McKean's 38.500 was good for sixth.
Up Next:
Air Force women's gymnastics awaits results from around the nation in order to determine selections for NCAA regionals, to be announced at 10 a.m. MT, Monday, March 25. As a team, the Falcons are off to USA Gymnastics Nationals, hosted by West Chester University, starting on April 12.
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